I have seen one or two. I think Lens and Repro had one a few years ago, perhaps still. As I recall, it was a meniscus lens, two cemented elements in one group, like the Imagon or the Kodak Portrait.

In any case, from the Vade Mecum:

Struss Pictorial lens f4.0
This was a simple meniscus lens. Some information was given in Photominiature No184, and some biographical information in Modern Photo. 02/1977 p61. Struss was the camera man for "Ben Hur" in Hollywood, and developed the lens when still quite a young man. The initial design seems to have been glass. Later versions in 1922 were made of 'natural' fused quartz, and were said to work at f5.6. One barrel could take a number of lenses interchangeably, or later there were up to 4 barrels for 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5in and elements for 5.0-21in focus. It was described as 'very soft but with firm delineation and sharpens up on closing down'. It was suggested to use 18in for 5x4in. (B.J.A. 1921, p782).

I like the "Ben Hur" connection. I imagine Charlton Heston using a Struss Pictorial lens with spikes while on his chariot, or was that the other guy?

According to the Vade Mecum, it was "sold by Fredk. W. Keasbey, Box 303, Morristown, N.J.,USA."

Last edited by JG Motamedi; 07-17-2005 at 03:34 PM. Click to view previous post history.